
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick recently discussed a variety of gaming-related topics in an interview with Protocol, including giving his thoughts on how Microsoft will fare with the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X.
When asked about his overall perspective on how Microsoft and Sony are approaching the new console generation and launch, Zelnick predicted Xbox would ultimately do very well:
"So far it looks to me as though they're both approaching this launch very aggressively. We've always worked happily with both parties. We would like to see both be very successful. In certain parts of the world, as you know, Sony had a preferred position last time around. I think Microsoft is working very, very hard to see that that's not repeated. I think it will be a challenge in Asia, where Sony's dominated.
But if I had to guess, I think Microsoft is going to do very well."
The CEO was also questioned about his thoughts on the Xbox All Access subscription model and the decision to bundle Xbox Game Pass as part of the low monthly deal, seemingly dismissing the Game Pass aspect slightly by suggesting that there will be "certain important front-line titles that will not be available on a subscription basis":
"Let's put it this way: I would say I know pretty much for a fact that there will be certain important front-line titles that will not be available on a subscription basis. Those are very much the titles that people buy these platforms for.
Front-line products are incredibly valuable, and Take-Two's front-line products are frankly and actually the most valuable in the business. We have the highest hit ratio in the business. We have the best-performing titles in the business, and we will be selective about what business models work for us."
What do you make of these comments? Give us your thoughts down below.
Comments 8
I think all 3 will do well with Switch + PS5 + Game Pass Ultimate being the most popular combo.
I think all the consoles will do well this holiday, regardless of the platform.
Microsoft is doing their own thing now, and having a $299 next-gen machine out there was a very smart move by the Xbox team.
They all will do well.
Last gen, at start, Xbox opened up very poorly, and generated lots of bad will from fans.
Nintendo releases a huge dud with the Wii U.
Sony literally has the race track all for themselves.
Now MS has recovered from their TV Fever, and Nintendo has found its biggest niche ever with the Switch. Sony will be in a healthy position, but they will simply not have the market to themselves. And that might actually be bad for them, because relatively speaking, they will look as if they are shrinking or losing momentum, when truth is they will just be normalizing busyness.
I predict a ton of PS exclusivity deals to backfire on the devs, as they realize they asked for too little money given how well Xbox ends up selling.
@TheNewButler As a gamer, my metric is: Are the games coming to the console?
Xbox Series X will launch in holiday with largest game lineup, thousands of enhanced titles ready to play day 1 combining with upcoming new day 1 titles. Gamepass, cross-generational backcompat and initiatives like Smart Delivery are the biggest pro-consumer and pro-developer moves right now.
Let me be more specific. Lots of developers are currently releasing games first on PS or Nintendo, and leaving Xbox behind. Including a large number of indies:
Fall Guys
Spelunky 2
FF Crystal Chronicles
Trials of Mana
Dragon Quest XI
Final Fantasy 7 Remake
Langrisser
Enter the Gungeon
Now, this is small list, but this includes games that I am/was very interested in playing and either have to wait to play it on Xbox, or am unable to play it at all on xbox. And all of the games listed above were made by 3rd party studios, not Nintendo, not Sony.
Will Xbox be included with more game releases going forward? That is my metric for success.
@TheNewButler As someone with little time, but a bit more money, I plan on acquiring all of the consoles anyway, as this allows me to play whatever I want to play, whenever I want to play it. But I honestly prefer playing on Xbox over PS or Nintendo, and would like to see more variety of games show up on Xbox. As an old school gamer, I find that I prefer indies more than most AAA games anyway, so I'd really like to see Xbox do better with indies like they did during the 360 generation.
@NotoriousWhiz
I actually think Microsoft has done a great job with indies coming to Xbox. Cuphead, Inside, Ori 1 and 2, etc. have all been huge indie exclusives. Plus they put a ton of indie games into Game Pass.
I get what you mean about the 360 days. But that was back when Sony’s PSN Store was a joke and Microsoft had the bigger market share, so indies would flock to the 360 first. Games like Braid & Castle Crashers were great examples of this.
I think it’ll be different this next-gen because Xbox will not be starting the generation behind the 8 ball with an idiot & arrogant Don Mattrick in charge. 😂
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